Welcome to Rockville 2025 Delivers A Monumental Weekend Filled with Incredible Rock & Historic Reunions at the Daytona International Speedway – Review of the Welcome to Rockville 2025 Festival in Daytona Beach, FL

In what has now become a yearly tradition in Florida, the 2025 edition of Welcome to Rockville once again transformed the Daytona International Speedway into a rock ‘n’ roll paradise, drawing a record-setting 230,000 fans for four days of blistering riffs, thunderous drums, and unforgettable performances. As the biggest rock festival in the U.S., Rockville has a big reputation to uphold and this year’s event didn’t mess around as it delivered an electrifying mix of legendary acts, explosive reunions, and rising stars, all set against the iconic backdrop of the beautiful scenic Daytona Beach.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Nathan Zucker

The Music: A Nonstop Assault of Rock, Metal, and Chaos

The festival’s two main stages, positioned on opposite ends of the Daytona International Speedway, hosted an electrifying mix of rock’s biggest names and most exciting acts. Pierce the Veil delivered a high-energy set filled with soaring melodies and post-hardcore intensity, even bringing out Kellen Quinn for “King for a Day“, while Bad Omens captivated the crowd with their dark, cinematic sound backed by an incredible pyro performance, and it was incredible to see how far they’ve come from playing the smallest stage at Rockville only 3 years ago. Incubus brought a wave of nostalgia with hits like “Drive” and “Megalomaniac,” proving their timeless appeal as they played a well-curated selection of their most popular songs. One of the most talked-about performances came from Marilyn Manson, who—after years of personal struggles—returned to the stage sober and in top form, digging deep into his catalog to revive older tracks like “Tourniquet”, “Get Your Gunn” and “Long Hard Road Out of Hell”, much to the delight of longtime fans. Chevelle and Beartooth delivered crushing sets, Good Charlotte brought pop-punk nostalgia to the main stage, while Rob Zombie thrilled fans with his signature horror-infused spectacle, complete with pyro, giant monsters, and a setlist packed with White Zombie classics. Unfortunately, 3 Doors Down had to cancel due to lead singer Brad Arnold’s ongoing cancer treatment, and Alice in Chains also pulled out last-minute due to an illness in the band—both absences were deeply felt, but fans showed overwhelming support for their recovery.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Jake Mulka

Between the two main stages sat the “heavy” stages, strategically placed side by side to create a seamless, nonstop barrage of riffs and breakdowns. The unique setup allowed bands like August Burns Red and ERRA to play back-to-back, keeping the circle pits in constant motion. Kublai Khan TX and Knocked Loose turned the crowd into a violent, sweat-drenched warzone as massive walls of death collided, while Killswitch Engage and Mastodon delivered masterclasses in metal precision. Newer acts also made waves—Seven Hours After Violet, the new band from System of a Down’s Shavo Odadjian, played one of their first shows ever, while GWAR brought their signature chaos in celebration of their 40th anniversary, drenching the crowd in fake blood as always. Asking Alexandria mixed old-school metalcore with their newer anthems, and Jinjer left jaws on the floor with Tatiana Shmayluk’s inhuman vocal range. The Plot in You brought raw emotion with their crushing set, and Insane Clown Posse unleashed their chaotic, Faygo-soaked spectacle to round out the festivities on Sunday night. The innovative side-by-stage setup ensured that the energy never dipped—as soon as one band finished, the next erupted into action, leaving no room for the boredom normally found in waiting for the next set to start.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Jake Mulka

For those craving even more brutality, the Garage Stage was a haven for extreme metal and hardcore. Underoath and The Devil Wears Prada brought waves of nostalgia with their trademark post-hardcore sound, while Whitechapel and After the Burial delivered relentless, technical devastation. Converge and Sunami incited pure chaos, with walls of death and stagedives galore. Emmure and Attila brought their signature brand of violent party metal, while up-and-coming newer bands like Peeling Flesh and Sanguisugabogg represented the raw, unfiltered side of death metal. Even experimental acts like HEALTH and Saosin found their place, proving that heaviness comes in many forms. By the end of each day, this stage was left littered with broken sunglasses, lost shoes, and fans who had given every ounce of energy they had—exactly how it should be. Local pride was also on full display as Florida bands represented hard across every stage. Shinedown, Trivium, New Found Glory, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Underoath, and Obituary all brought hometown energy, while deathcore upstarts Bodybox delivered a brutal set.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Lexie Alley

Reunions & Rare Appearances: A Nostalgia-Fueled Frenzy

Rockville 2025 also became a pilgrimage for fans of reunions and recently reformed original lineups of their favorite bands. Three Days Grace reunited with original vocalist Adam Gontier, delivering a set packed with early 2000s hits featuring both singers. Mathcore legends The Dillinger Escape Plan shocked fans with their first show of the year with original singer Dimitri Minakakis, performing songs from their first album Calculating Infinity. Anniversary sets stole the spotlight, with Bullet For My Valentine playing The Poison in full for its 20th anniversary and Trivium doing the same for Ascendancy. The legendary sludge metal band Acid Bath also made an appearance during their 2025 reunion tour, treating fans to songs many of them haven’t seen live in over 30 years.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Jake Mulka

Reunions of other metalcore acts like It Dies Today, All Shall Perish, and Chiodos brought back the golden era of the scene, and Black Dahlia Murder brought out guest singer Guy Kozowyk from The Red Chord to fill in for their Rockville appearance. The return of Power Trip (with new vocalist Seth Gilmore) and Snot (with new vocalist Andy Knapp and guest appearances from ex-Godsmack drummer Shannon Larkin and God Forbid guitarist Doc Coyle) ignited enormous mosh pits, and 2000’s groove metal stalwarts Crossfade, Dry Kill Logic and Chimaira made extremely rare live appearances. Sublime also took the stage for one of their first shows with Jakob Nowell (son of the late Bradley Nowell) on vocals, reigniting the band’s legacy and surely making Bradley proud.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and WHOISCOOP

The Headliners: Four Nights of Unforgettable Rock

Each night of Welcome to Rockville 2025 was capped off by a legendary headliner, turning the Daytona International Speedway into Florida’s 50th largest city as over 70,000 fans per day jostled for a great spot to watch the show. Thursday night belonged to Shinedown, as the Florida natives delivered a career-defining hometown headline set, marking their first time closing out Rockville in triumphant fashion. Brent Smith’s powerhouse vocals soared through anthems like “Second Chance” and “Cut the Cord” while pyrotechnics and fireworks went off behind them, and a special surprise appearance by Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd to help Shinedown perform their cover of “Simple Man” created a truly magical moment.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Steve Thrasher

Friday night erupted with Green Day’s long-awaited Rockville debut, as Billie Joe Armstrong and company unleashed a relentless, hit-packed spectacle kicking off with “American Idiot”. The band chose to forego its usual cover-packed setlist as they celebrated 20 years of the American Idiot album, and instead packed a stunning 20 song spectacle into their 100 minutes onstage. From to “Holiday” to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” the punk icons played nearly half of their award-winning 2004 album during the show, along with older hits like “Brain Stew“, “Basket Case” and “Welcome to Paradise” that had the entire crowd screaming along to the lyrics.

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Saturday was a historic night as Linkin Park took the stage with new co-vocalist Emily Armstrong, marking the recently reunited band’s Florida debut and one of their first live performances in over seven years. Coming off the heels of their new album From Zero, the emotional set blended Chester Bennington’s legacy with Armstrong’s fiery presence, as hits like “In the End,” “Numb,” and “One Step Closer” ignited cathartic sing-alongs in the crowd, while newer songs like “Heavy is the Crown“, “Overflow“, and the live debut of “Let You Fade” proved the band’s music remains timeless.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Steve Thrasher

Finally, Sunday night closed with a monstrous performance from Korn, as Jonathan Davis and the pioneers of nu-metal brought their signature dark, groove-laden fury to Rockville. Opening with “Blind” and tearing through classics like “Freak on a Leash” and “Coming Undone” while also treating Rockvillians to rarities “Did My Time“, “4U” and “Twisted Transistor“, their set was a visceral, bass-heavy assault that left the crowd exhausted and euphoric.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Steve Thrasher

The Vendors: A Rock Fan’s Shopping Paradise

Beyond the music, the festival grounds were packed with vendors catering to every fan’s needs. Merch booths offered exclusive band tees, posters, and festival memorabilia, while the numerous food stands and catering trucks served up everything from fan favorite Island Noodles and gourmet burgers to vegan-friendly options (and of course, plenty of bar service options to keep your whistle wet). Local artisans sold handcrafted jewelry and rock-themed artwork, while sponsors kept the crowd fueled with freebies and interactive experiences. The Rockville Vintage Market was a particularly popular spot, giving fans a chance to take home unique souvenirs from previous years that they might have missed out on at a discount price. There was even a music instrument tent where fans could try out guitars and show off their riffs, and even get one shipped to their house if they bought one but didn’t want to carry it around all weekend. There was also a wide variety of different carnival rides for those that had time to spare, including the return of the iconic Rockville Ferris Wheel which provided fans with the perfect birds-eye view photo opportunity.

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and WHOISCOOP

A Triumph Over the Elements: Rockville Rises Above the Heat

As the final chords of Korn’s earth-shaking set faded into the Florida night, Welcome to Rockville 2025 cemented its place as one of the biggest, most unforgettable editions in the festival’s history. Beyond the explosive reunions, career-defining performances, and nonstop mosh pits, this year’s event proved its resilience in the face of Mother Nature’s fury. With Daytona scorched by a 100 degree record-breaking heat wave, organizers swiftly adapted to keep fans safe—slashing water prices to just $2 on Friday, allowing re-entry for cooling off in cars, and deploying additional water stations, misting fans, and air-conditioned “cool off vans” across the grounds over the rest of the weekend. These measures didn’t just prevent disaster; they showed the festival’s commitment to its community, ensuring that the music never had to stop. From the blistering riffs to the even more blistering temperatures, Rockville emerged victorious—evidence of the unbreakable spirit of rock fans and the teams behind the scenes who made it all possible. As the crowds dispersed, sunburnt, exhausted, and already counting down to next year, one thing was clear: No amount of heat could match the fire of this legendary weekend. See you in 2026—make sure to hydrate!

Photo courtesy of Danny Wimmer Presents and Sam Shapiro